"Anyone want to sail in me keelboat with me, mateys!" Gisant asked.
"Sure!" answered Dappler the shrew and Seedel the squirrel.
"Well then, come aboard!" They all went in an' started talking.
"You know, I've always liked sailing though I don't get much of a chance to do so," said Seedle.
"Aye 'tis fine thing, said Gisant, I can never 'ave to much of it meself!"
"Hey guys, said Dappler, we have to go now, an' we should have left half an hour ago. 'Twill be dark soon!"
"Alright, matey we were just 'avin' a little talk," said Gisant. He rigged up the sail, steered the tiller and off they went. They had a nice trip for half a day and went to bed. They all woke up at the same time and Dappler prepared breakfast.
"Ooh," exclaimed Seedle, honeyoat scones with damson preserves an' two freshly baked pear flans! The trio went into the cabin an' ate one of the flans an' all of the scones.
Dappler streached an' spoke. "This is the life. No worries, or strife."
Gisant went out of the cabin an' went to the tiller. "The wind's blowin' strong," he said, "I need help!"
Seedle came out of the cabin to assist with the tiller an' Dappler helped with the sail. After struggling in vain for three quarters of an hour they gave up.
"I hope we aren't of course!" exclaimed Dappler.
"I'll go check!" said Gisant. Gisant went into the cabin an' pulled out a map. "H'm," he said to the others. Pointing to the middle of the map, he said, "We left Ruddering Caverns from 'ere an' went south. Then after we traveled three leagues before the storm hit us. We were blown off course an' I think we're right 'ere."h'e pointed again, this time at the top edge of the map.
"Well," said Seedle, we'll just have to make the best of it."
"Well, I don't know about you fellas, but I'm ready fer some sleep!" exclaimed Dappler.
"Me too!" agreed Seedle.
"An' me!" said Gisant. So the three friends slept till dawn. Gisant awoke first and walked to the deck. "Still stormy," muttered Gisant to himself as he paced the deck. Suddenly wind started blowing harder and waves started crashing over the deck. Gisant ran into the cabin and shouted, "Start bailin', Mateys!"
Seedle and Dappler leaped out of their beds, grabbed buckets, and started bailing. After a while, the wind calmed down a little.
"Whew, gasped Dappler, we don't have to worry 'bout the boat gettin' swamped any more."
"Time fer brekkers!" called Gisant. Dappler and Seedle came into the cabin and sat on stools around a little oak table.
Seedle made a face. "Saltwater soaked raspberry cordial and a mashed pear flan!? Is that all we have to eat?"
"Be grateful we ain't on the bottom of the ocean. answered Gisant. "Dappler, after eatin' could y'help me with fishin' nets? I'm in the mood fer fresh shimp."
"Sure, replied Dapple, I'll help ya!" The three friends ate.
"We 'ave a food shortage, mateys, so we'll all 'ave to pitch in by fishin'." Seedle remarked, "I already knew we had a food shortage by what we're eating."
After everyone was done eating, Gisant got a big fishing net from the storage box. "'ere, you 'old this end." he said to Dappler. Dappler held his end while Gisant dragged the net in the water and pulled it up. In the net was lots of fish and sea shrimp. "Any 'un still 'ungry?" asked Gisant. "Cause there be tons o' fresh fish an' shrimp. I wish I 'ad me a pinch of 'otroot, though." Gisant fryed up some shrimp and started eating it.
"You ald waterdog, replied Dappler, yer always wantin' to eat." Gisant said "Us otters need our nourishment!" At that very moment the ship strated rocking.
"What's that?" asked Seedle.
"Lit's see!" answered Gisant. They went on deck and saw three log boats not far off.
"It's the Guosim!" Dappler yelled. "We're saved!"
Indeed it was the Guosim, and as the boats came closer, a shrew from one of the boats called out, "Ahoy there! Friend or foe?"
"Friend!" all three shouted. the shrew came aboard.
Log-a-log! exclaimed Dappler.
Log-a-log said, "Everyone at Ruddaring was worried about you three, so I was asked to search fer you over here. The three friends, under Log-a-log's directions, steered for home. ���� �